Consuming Fire

“When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, "Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!" ~1 Kings 18:39 HCSB

Elijah has been in hiding after announcing a drought because of king Ahab sin.   At the end of three years Elijah comes out and the land is suffering terrible famine.  For years now King Ahab and his wife Jezebel have led the people of Israel in worship of Baal and Asherah.  Ahab has killed the prophets of God and done more evil than any king before him.  When Ahab saw Elijah he called him the “destroyer of Israel” and never thought he was the cause of the drought and famine.  Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal’s in front of all the people to find out whose God is really God. 

The challenge was simple each would build an alter and place a bull on top of the wood but would not light a fire and the God who answered with fire is God.  The prophets of Baal went first.  They called out to the name of Baal, but nothing happen.  There was no sound, no answer.  The prophets danced and shouted louder and began to cut themselves for hours.  Elijah began to mock them, "Shout loudly, for he's a god! Maybe he's thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he's on the road. Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" (1 Kings 18:27) At the end of the day nothing had happened. 

Elijah then built an alter and placed the wood and the bull on top of it.  He dug a trench around the alter and drenched everything in water, not once but three times.  He then prayed God would make Himself known so the people would know He is Yahweh and turn back to Him.  Yahweh’s fire fell from the sky and consumed everything and when all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, "Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!  Yahweh is God and He is alive!  We serve the one true God who wants to be known, wants to be real in your life.  He sent His Son Jesus Christ so that we might know His glorious grace.  In Him we have life, turn to Him today!

Lord you are the one true God!  There is no one like you and I pray You would make Yourself known in our lives today.  Thank you for Jesus Christ who makes this possible, may we live for His glory!